The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte
thesquidsink.com
The Squid's Ink | Dominic Matte
@thesquidsink.com
Fantasy author writing mostly modern-ish novels and shorts.
Also enjoy food, birds, video and board games, and my dog.
https://thesquidsink.com/about/
Finished draft of a new year's short for tomorrow. Wish I had more time to edit. May double back later if I feel it needs more work.

On Renewal eve, a lone monster hunter who hates tradition decides maybe the people trying to join him might be right.

#writing #writers #writingcommunity #writersky
December 31, 2025 at 11:20 PM
"Got any snacks?"

Bird researchers feed the trumpeter swans at Tommy Thompson park to count and track them, as they were extirpated from the province for decades.

They're doing quite well now though.

Friendlier than the mute swans but I'm not taking my chances!

#bird #birds #birding #swan
December 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Had friends over to watch Back to the Future for their first time ever and they said they'd bring a "small" charcuterie board

#food #foodporn #foodie #charcuterie
December 31, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Yesterday I saw a delivery guy come up to our door, turn around, and cut across the lawn toward the house on the corner. I poked out to see if he'd left us a package, but there was nothing at either door or at our mailbox.

TODAY I found it. Literally could not be further and still on our property.
December 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Never been so close to these fancy long-tailed ducks before! Usually they're quite shy, but these ones didn't mind us on the bridge next to them.

#bird #birds #birding #duck
December 30, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Watching a movie with fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles.
December 30, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Plotting out a short story using a Christmas gift tarot deck for inspiration!
On the eve of the new year, a young man is at a crossroads: will he reject tradition and accept a responsibility he doesn't want?

#writing #writers #writingcommunity #writersky
December 29, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Getting the Pandemic Legacy gang back together in the new year for Ticket to Ride Legacy!
Had a blast with the Pandemic story, looking forward to seeing TTR's twists.

#boardgames
December 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Nachos and Stranger Things 5

#food #foodporn
December 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
❗❗❗OWL ALERT ❗️❗️❗️
Took the dog for a walk in the woods behind my parents' house and startled a barred owl. This is the best photo I could get because I didn't want to follow and stress it, but it was so cool!
Adrenaline rush 🤣

#birds #birding #owl #wildlifephotography
December 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Problem diagnosed: for some reason the charger I brought with me will not charge my Samsung devices when off at 0% battery, but once they're on, it works fine...
Well I was GOING to write on the train, but my tablet won't start. Best I could get was a flicker of boot screen. Letting it charge for a while and hoping it's not dead...

#writerproblems #writing #writersky #writingcommunity
December 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
December 24, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I've always avoided wireless accessories because I HATE HATE HATE being unable to use them when they run out of charge.

Trying out airpods on a long train ride and GUESS WHAT

(they were free so whatever, still annoyed tho)
December 24, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Update: no update, aka it's maybe bad news for the tablet...........
Well I was GOING to write on the train, but my tablet won't start. Best I could get was a flicker of boot screen. Letting it charge for a while and hoping it's not dead...

#writerproblems #writing #writersky #writingcommunity
December 24, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Well I was GOING to write on the train, but my tablet won't start. Best I could get was a flicker of boot screen. Letting it charge for a while and hoping it's not dead...

#writerproblems #writing #writersky #writingcommunity
December 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
First game on the new table!

Played #TickettoRide on 2025-12-23 with 2 players, winning score: 117 #bgstats

#boardgames
December 24, 2025 at 2:42 AM
After almost 20 years I FINALLY have a full size table and board game space!
(and dining room I guess)

#boardgames
December 23, 2025 at 4:22 AM
New chapter of Ravenshore's Antimagic in early access (and newly free chapter)!

The king's army is gathered outside Ravenshore and Kat, hoping this isn't stupid, heads in to meet him.

Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/ravens...

Substack: open.substack.com/pub/thesquid...

#fantasy #novel #books
December 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The view from my desk while I play video games

#dog #dogs #dogsky
December 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
#booksky please send me recos for something extremely specific: I want sci fi and fantasy about how to / whether humanity can explore new worlds without colonialism.
(Not just "spicy setting colonialism is bad")

#books #scifi #fantasy
December 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Just saw Avatar: Fire and Ash.
10/10 visuals
3/10 story
But finally some actual interesting character development here and there.
Don't want to spoil anything in top post but happy to discuss below.

#movies #avatar
December 20, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Oh cool my #boardgames tracking app does a year in review!

The takeaway is that moving made me too busy (and too packed) to board game. Planning to change that in 2026!
December 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
December 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Diefenbaker getting ready for Christmas

#dog #dogs
December 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Well I'm gonna be running my PC like this for a bit, until I find out whether my power supply gets a warranty replacement for bad fan bearing or I have to find my own solution 🙃

#pc #pcgaming
December 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM